Flat washing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Empty filler flats gravitate in timed and spaced relationship from the end of a horizontal conveyor into a washer which includes a multispoked pusher member that is intermittently rotated to receive the flats in vertical positions and index them about the washer in a circular path to a plurality of washing stations where jet sprays direct wash water against both sides of the flats. Before it completes a full revolution, each flat is directed tangentially by the pusher member to a position where it can be engaged by a reciprocating stacker arm which forces the flat out of the washer past a latching arm and into a stack of accumulated flats.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Boyd W. Rose;

Michael L. Schield. both 01, Riverside, Calii. [21] Appl. No. 842,913 [22] Filed July/18,1969 [45] Patented June 8,1971 [73] Assignee FMC Corporation San Jose, Calif.

[54] FLAT WASHING APPARATUS 19 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

{52] U.S.Cl 134/46, 134/48,134/57,134/79,134/83,]34/133. 134/151 [51] Int. Cl B081! 3/02,

' B08b 9/00' [50] Field of Search 134/46, 48, 57, 68, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 133, 134, 151

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,392,780 10/1921 Marsh et a1. 134/151UX 1,463,964 8/1923 Miller 134/134 1,533,150 4/1925 Ulrich et a1. 134/83 1,620,360 3/1927 Kragen et a1 134/46X 1,692,190 11/1928 Templeton 134/79 1,800,533 4/1931 Hummel 134/134 1,878,163 9/1932 Messlein 134/133X 2,675,011 4/1954 Maddaford.... 134/79 2,717,608 9/1955 Baldwin 134/81 3,223,097 12/1965 Spaulding 134/48X 3,226,757 1/1966 Shea l34/81X FOREIGN PATENTS 216,508 11/1909 Germany 134/80 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Attorneys-F. W. Anderson and C. E. Tripp ABSTRACT: Empty filler flats gravitate in timed and spaced relationship from the end of a horizontal conveyor into a washer which includes a multispoked pusher member that is intermittently rotated to receive the flats in vertical positions and index them about the washer in a circular path to a plurality of washing stations where jet sprays direct wash water against both sides of the flats. Before it completes a full revolution, each flat is directed tangentially by the pusher member to a position where it can be engaged by a reciprocating stacker arm which forces the flat out of the washer past a latching arm and into a stack of accumulated flats.

PATENIEU JUN 8 1911 3583414 sum 1 [IF 6 F'IE: l

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O 3 4 Of/F O 4 O INVENTORS BOYD W. ROSE MICHAEL L.SHIELD BYJMW @mwzga ATTORNEYS PATENTED Jun 81971 SHEET U 0F 6 d wm-lmql PATENTEU Jun 8 Ian SHEET 5 0F 6 PATENTED JUN 8 l97| SHEET 8 BF 6 FLAT WASHING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to apparatus for washing articles, and more particularly, it pertains to apparatus for the continuous and automatic washing and stacking of articles ofa generally flat shape.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the egg handling industry, formed plastic filler flats are commonly used to transport eggs from the farms or production houses to the egg processing plants. These so-called filler flats are of generally flat shape and contain a plurality of rows of closely spaced pockets for the reception of eggs in upright positions. The flats are usually stacked together in a nested arrangement at the processing plant after the eggs have been removed therefrom which stacks of flats may then be returned to the farms for reuse. During their useful life, the flats may be reused many times. Because of the nature of their use, the flats accumulate egg yolk, albumin and large quantities of general dirt after but a few trips between the farm and the egg processing plant and, therefore, the egg handling industry has been seeking some fast and efficient way of washing the flats to prevent undue contamination of the eggs and thereby increase the efficiency of the overall egg handling operation.

One generally used method of washing the filler flats is to take the nested stacks of flats and to place them in a batch washer where they are rotated through a wash chamber and subjected to high pressure sprays. This method has not proven altogether satisfactory since manual labor is necessary for loading and unloading the batch washer. Furthermore, the cleaning is not thorough because, when the flats are nested together in their stacked arrangement, wash water is not adequately provided upon all of the surfaces thereof.

An improved apparatus has been designed which washes the filler flats in-line, i.e., with each flat being washed individually just after the eggs have been removed therefrom. In using this apparatus, the flats are adapted to be individually received from a horizontal conveyor at the input end of the egg processing machinery, such conveyors being commonly provided in industrial egg processing machines. Upon removal of the eggs, the empty flats are carried by the conveyor through a wash chamber where overhead sprays are directed downwardly against the top surfaces of the flats. The flats may then be stacked manually in the normal manner. This apparatus has been found to have at least two significant disadvantages. First, the washing is not particularly thorough since the wash water tends to accumulate in the egg-holding pockets on the flats so thatthe dirt does not have a chance to be rinsed away. Secondly, the normal manual stacking of the flats is required and, therefore, a man must be continuously provided for handling this stacking job or a special stacking device will be required.

Washing apparatus for other articles of generally flat shape are found to be unsatisfactory for adaptation to an egg filler flat washing operation for various reasons. For one reason, such prior art machines generally do not have any automatic stacking feature. Also, the manner of handling the flat articles by the prior art machines and the method of washing would not be altogether suitable for egg filler flats. Examples of prior art apparatus for the washing of flat articles are disclosed in the US. Pat. Nos. to Kleeman et al. 2,830,605 and Johnson 2,600,54 I for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the present invention utilizes the in-line concept, i.e., it is adapted to handle the tiller flats individually as they are conveyed in the normal egg handling operation and after the eggs have been removed therefrom. There must be provided some means for automatically delivering each flat individually to the washing apparatus of the present invention where a carousellike conveyor member will receive the flats and carry them in spaced arrangement about the periphery of an enclosed washing tank. .let sprays supplied with wash water will be impinged upon both of the major surfaces of the filler flats to give them a thorough cleaning. When each flat has completed its trip through the washing tank, it is automatically engaged by a stacking device and placed in a nested condition in a continuously formed stack of flats. Such stacks may be allowed to accumulate over a considerable period of time before they will be required to be manually removed, and, with the apparatus to be described herein which has been built to handle filler flats at the rate of 720 per hour, removal of the accumulated stacks is only required at 35 minute intervals. An occasional removal of the accumulated stacks and an occasional adding of detergent to or flushing of the wash water is all the attention that the washing apparatus of the present invention will require. Consequently, it can readily be seen that the apparatus is an efficient labor-saving device.

Speed and efficient handling of the flats are the primary ad vantages of the washing apparatus of the present invention. Washing is thorough and fast because each flat is sprayed on both sides thereof while it is in an upright or vertical position. Both the cleaning and the draining of the flat are thereby improved by the manner in which the flat is conveyed through the washing apparatus. Also, when the flats are stacked they are stacked on edge in upright positions which feature allows for further and more complete draining.

Another feature of the present invention is the wash water recirculating system which provides for economy of water usage. Wash water in the washing tank is directed to a reservoir from where it is pumped to the spray nozzles. Special rinse water may also be continuously added to the system while the dirtier portion of the wash water is continually skimmed off and discarded.

While the washing apparatus of the present invention is shown and described as operating with an infeed conveyor that supplies filler flats in uniformly timed and spaced relationship, such an input device is not altogether necessary. Actually, the washing apparatus of the present invention may easily be adapted to cooperate with any singulated input of flller flats such as a typical flat dispenser which is designed to feed flats individually from a nested stack, such dispensing devices being very commonly used in flat or cardboard container handling operations.

It will also be apparent that the washing apparatus of the present invention, while particularly designed for handling plastic egg filler flats, is not limited to the handling of such articles. Any articles of a generally flat shape may be thoroughly and efficiently washed with the apparatus to be described particularly if the stacking operation can be accomplished in the manner set forth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan of the washing apparatus of the present invention with the cover of the washing tank broken away for the purpose of clarity.

FIG. 2 is a central section through the washing tank taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective of the drive means for the washing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a generally diagrammatic side elevation of the stacker mechanism particularly showing the pusher arm in its normal retracted position.

FIG. 6 is a generally diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of the stacker mechanism, similar to FIG. 5, but showing the pusher arm in its rotated position where it is pushing a flat into a stack.

FIG. 7 is a generally diagrammatic section through the washing apparatus of the present invention taken transversely to the section of FIG. 2 and generally illustrating the arrange ment of the washing tank and the reservoir and the water circulation therethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof disclose the washing apparatus of the present invention which, in the presently described embodiment, is particularly adapted to cooperate with a horizontally arranged infeed conveyor 12 to receive a continuous series of flat articles F therefrom in timed and spaced relationship, wash them thoroughly, and form them into a nested stack where they can drain and dry. In the described embodiment of the invention, the flat articles are egg filler flats which are designed to carry a plurality of eggs in upright positions although only empty flller flats may be washed by the washing apparatus of the present invention. The filler flats may be provided from an egg processing machine which utilizes such an infeed conveyor to transport the filler flats past an egg removal means. The filler flats will normally proceed on such a conveyor to a point where they can be stacked by hand. With the present invention, the conventional infeed conveyor 12 is utilized to cause the flats to gravitate from the end thereof directly into the washing apparatus as shown in FIG. 2. Pushers 13, provided upon the conveyor at uniformly spaced intervals for moving the flats therealong, will deliver the flats to the washing apparatus in a uniformly spaced and timed arrangement. In order to correlate the timing of the delivery conveyor with the operation of the washing apparatus, each of the pushers 13 may be provided with an extension are 15 (FIG. l) which is arranged to engage a limit switch LS-ll as it moves about the end of the conveyor for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The washing apparatus 10 is seen to generally comprise a washing tank of rectangular shape including sidewalls 22, a rear wall 24l, a front wall 26, a floor 27, and a removable cover 28. Mounted within the washing tank is a rotary conveyor member 30 which includes eight outwardly extending spokelike pusher members 32 having flat engaging plates 34 mounted in upright positions at their outer extremities for moving the tiller flats about the periphery of the tank. A spray system is provided in the washing tank by a header pipe 40 arranged in a semicircle in a horizontal plane at the upper end of the tank, which system is adapted to deliver a continuous spray of water against the surfaces of the filler flats as they are moved through the tank. After each flat makes an approximate 3l5 rotational movement about the periphery of the tank, a discharge pusher arm 42 is arranged to engage it and push it out of the tank onto a drain plate 46 and into the trailing end of a nested stack of filler flats. The movement of the conveyor member is intermittent whereby it is caused to rotate approximately 45 during each incremental movement to bring each filler flat successively to washing positions or stations spaced 45 apart about the periphery of the tank. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, this intermittent movement of the conveyor member is timed with and controlled by the infeed of filler flats from the horizontally extending infeed conveyor 12.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the rotary conveyor member 30 includes a central hub 50 having an outwardly extending flange- 51 at the upper end thereof to which the inner end of each of the pusher members 32 is welded. The pusher members each include an inner section 32a extending horizontally, a downwardly extending intermediate section 32b, an outer horizontal section 320 which is closely spaced from the floor 27 of the washing tank, and an upstanding terminal section 32d which mounts the flat engaging plates 34. It will be noted that the flat engaging plates are generally rectangular in shape with their long dimension running vertically in the tank so that they will engage the narrow side edge of the tiller flat in conveying it along the floor of the tank.

Adjacent to the infeed conveyor 12 at the side of the tank a delivery chute 56 is provided as defined by a front plate 57 secured to the upper edge of the tank structure and a pair of sideplates 58 which are secured to the side edges of the front plate. An inclined slide member 60 is mounted upon the upper edge of the adjacent sidewall 22 of the tank in a position to catch the filler flats as they gravitate off the infeed conveyor and to direct them into the delivery chute between the front wall 57 thereof and the adjacent sidewall 22 of the washing tank.

In order to maintain the tiller flats in upright positions as they are conveyed about the washing tank, a pair of outer guide rods 64 and a pair of inner guide rods 66 are provided. These guide rods extend in generally circular paths from a position adjacent to the delivery chute 56 to a position adjacent to the discharge pusher arm 42, or in an approximate 270 arcuate path. As best shown in the plan view of FIG. I, the spacing between the guide rods 64 and 66 is increased somewhat at their end portions adjacent to the delivery chute so that the tiller flats will be directed into the narrow vertical space between the opposed sets of rods. At the discharge end of the conveying path, the outer rods 64 are provided with end portions 640 which are bent directly away from the conveying path and are attached to the front wall 26 of the tank. The end portions 66a of each of the inner guide rods 66 extend in a path generally tangential to the circular conveying path so as to cause the filler flats to be guided out of the conveyor path and toward the discharge arm 42. An angled guide rod 68 (FIGS. 1 and 5) is mounted upon the floor 27 of the washing tank in a position to engage the lower edge of each filler flat as it moves off of the inner guide rods 66 to direct it to the corner of the washing tank adjacent to an opening 70 in the front wall thereof. In this position the tiller flat will be directly in front of the pusher arm 42 and in a position to be discharged from the tank.

The discharge pusher arm 42 comprises an upright rod section 74 which extends from a horizontally extending lower rod section 76 (FIG. 4) that is axially rotatably mounted upon the frame structure of the apparatus. At the upper end of the upright rod section there is provided an inwardly extending arm 78 to which there is attached a pusher finger 79 that is adapted to engage the back face of each filler flat between the grooved pockets thereof and push it forwardly out of the washing tank through the opening 76 in the front wall thereof. The upright rod section 74 mounts a rearwardly extending flange 80 which is connected to the driving means for the washing apparatus in a manner to be explained more fully hereinafter.

As shown in the operational views of FIGS. 5 and 6, the pusher arm 42 in its normal retracted position lies to the rear of the tiller flat as it is moved into the discharge area. Upon actuation of the pusher arm, the arm will be pivoted about the axis of the lower rod section 76 to cause the flat-engaging finger 79 to move forwardly and carry the flat therewith. In order to aid in transferring the flats between the washing tank and the drain plate 46, the floor 27 of the tank is provided with an extension tab 82 which overlies the drain plate (FIGS. 1, 5 and 6). As the flat moves out of the washing tank it will be caused to engage a latch 84 which is pivotally mounted (FIGS. 5 and 6) upon a downwardly extending mounting bracket 85 that is carried by a support bracket 86 attached at the top of the front wall 26 of the washing tank. The latch includes a downwardly inclined portion 84a adapted to be engaged by the top edge of the tiller flat to cause the latch to be pivoted upwardly allowing the flat to pass therebeneath. The outer end of the latch includes an upstanding portion 84b which is adapted to extend through a slot 88 (FIG. I) in the support bracket 86. A nut 89 is adjustably mounted to the top end of the upstanding portion 84b of the latch to engage the side edges of the slot and secure the latch at the desired elevation for engagement by the discharging filler flats. As will be evident, when a filler flat has cleared the latch, the latch will drop back into its normal position as shown in FIG. 5, where the nut will engage and be supported by the support bracket 86.

The drain plate 46, onto which the filler flats are pushed, will be seen (FIG. 7) to serve as the cover for an underlying reservoir 90. When the flats are pushed out of the washing tank they are arranged into a stack (FIGS. 5 and 6) which is formed along the surface of the drain plate. The upstanding portion 84b of the latch supports the trailing end of the stack to keep it from falling back into the washing tank and the front end of the stack is loosely maintained by a flexible strap 92 that is secured to the front end of the support bracket 86. As shown in FIG. 1, the drain plate includes apertures 94 which allow the water that is draining off the flats to drip through to the underlying reservoir (P16. 7). The stack is automatically built up as the individual flats are added thereto and will be caused to extend forwardly across the drain plate. No manual intervention will be required until the stack reaches the forward edge of the drain plate. At this time, an operator may shift the stack laterally along the face of the drain plate (to the right as viewed in P16. 1) to an adjacent area thereon and allow a subsequent stack to be built up at the discharge area. At various times, suiting the convenience of the operator. the stacks may be removed from the drain plate and taken to a place of storage.

As shown in FIG. 7, the reservoir 90 is adapted to contain a supply of wash water which is maintained at a constant level by means of an overflow pipe 100 that is provided with an outwardly flaring inlet mouth 102 at its upper end. Mounted within the reservoir is a filtered inlet 104 to a pump P which is operated to continuously pump water from the reservoir through upstanding pipe 105 and connecting hose 106 to the header pipe 40 for distribution in the washing tank. The header pipe directs the water vertically to a plurality of downwardly extending branch pipes 110 each of which are provided with nozzles 112 oriented so as to direct high pressure sprays horizontally and outwardly of the header pipe to wash the inwardly facing surfaces of the filler flats. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 1, the branch pipes 110 are provided at suitably spaced locations about the periphery of the tank so that the spray therefrom will impinge against the filler flats in each of their intermittent stops as they are conveyed about the tank. Also extending from the header pipe 40 are three branch conduits 114 which are arranged at each of the corners of the washing tank other than the corner adjacent to the discharge station. Branch conduits 114 include a horizontally extending section 115 which extends radially outwardly from the header pipe and a downwardly extending section 116 (FIG. 7) which extends in parallel relationship to the branch pipes 110 and which includes a plurality of spray nozzles 118, similar to the spray nozzles 112, for directing spray inwardly against the outer faces of the flats. It will be appreciated that each flat will be sprayed upon both its top and bottom surface (as the flats are oriented on the infeed conveyor) with the top surface (which is generally the most dirty) receiving a considerably heavier spraying since their are considerably more spray nozzles 112 than there are spray nozzles 118.

A secondary conduit 120 is connected to the upstanding pipe 105 near its upper end to also receive wash water from the pump. This conduit extends to a hood 122 mounted atop the washing tank structure above the delivery chute 56 and terminates in a downwardly directed spray nozzle 124 which is designed to direct a spray against each filler flat moving into the delivery chute to urge it downwardly into the washing tank in a position to be engaged by the rotating pusher arms 32 of the conveyor member. The spray from conduit 120 will prevent a filler flat from jamming in the delivery chute of from otherwise bridging the chute and refusing to drop into the tank.

In addition to the spray provided by the pump P to the header pipe 40 and secondary conduit 120, a special rinse spray is provided by means of a nozzle 130 positioned adjacent to the discharge ends of the guide rods 64 and 66. This rinse spray, which may or may not be provided with a sanitizing agent, is comprised of fresh water from an external source and is utilized to remove the wash water from the inwardly facing, pocketed face of the tiller flats just prior to their being discharged from the tank. The nozzle 130 is connected to an input line 132 which extends through one of the sidewalls 22 of the washing tank to a preferably heated external source of rinse water. An angled deflecting shield 134 is mounted within the tank with the apex thereof closely surrounding the nozzle so that the rinse water will be deflected against the filler flat in a manner to insure full coverage of the face thereof.

A slot is provided in the floor 27 of the washing tank with the slot extending completely across the width of the tank (FIG. 1) adjacent to the front wall 26 thereof. As shown in FIG. 7, all of the spray directed into the tank from the header pipe 40, the secondary conduit 120, and the rinse spray nozzle 130 will be collected at the floor of the tank and will be discharged through the slot 140 to the reservoir 90. A fresh supply of water is continually being added to the system at a relatively low rate by the rinse water supply from nozzle 130 while a continual supply will be discharged from the reservoir through the overflow pipe 100. Obviously, except for minor evaporation losses, the discharge through the overflow pipe will equal the rinse water input. Detergent or the like may be added to the reservoir from time to time so that the flller flats may be more effectively cleaned, and the suds resulting from this detergent at the surface of the reservoir will be skimmed off by the bell shaped mouth 102 of the overflow pipe. Dirt or other debris which is removed from the filler flats will to a considerable extent be floated upon the reservoir by the detergent film and will therefore also be removed from the reservoir with the overflow discharge. In practicing the present invention, a system has been designed wherein the pump P delivers some 70 to 80 gallons of wash water per minute to the header pipe 40 and secondary conduit 120 with the rinse nozzle supplying about 20 gallons of rinse water per hour and with the overflow pipe 100 discharging a like amount to effectively maintain the system. At periodic intervals, the entire system may be drained with a new supply of water being added to the reservoir. Detergent, of course, will be added to the reservoir in amounts determined by the particular soiled condition of the filler flats.

The drive for the washing apparatus of the present invention is shown in well-known FIG. 3 but can best be understood from the diagrammatic view of FIG. 4. The hub 50 of the conveyor member 30 is secured to an upstanding stub shaft which is mounted for rotation at the center of the floor 27 of the washing tank. The lower end of the stub shaft 150 is keyed to a large drive sprocket 152 about which is trained a drive chain 154. The drive chain 154 is driven by means of a small sprocket I56 carried by a vertical shaft 157, the lower end of which mounts a first miter gear 158 that is engaged with a second miter gear 159 carried by a horizontally extending shaft 160. A drive shaft 162 is arranged to be connected to the shaft through a single-revolution clutch 164 in the well known manner. The operation of the clutch 164 is controlled by a pivotally mounted latch arm 166 which is maintained by a spring 167 in a position to engage an abutment 168 on the driven portion of the clutch. As is well known, release of the latch arm from the driven portion of the clutch permits the drive portion and the driven portion of the clutch to rotate together, through frictional interengagement, for example, and thereby transmits power from the drive shaft 162 to the shaft 160. Engagement of the latch arm with the abutment after a single revolution of shaft 160 causes the driven portion of the clutch and the shaft 160 to which it is connected to come to a stop while the drive portion of the clutch continues to rotate.

Movement of the clutch latching arm 166 is controlled by a cam 170 which is mounted upon a main drive shaft 172. The main drive shaft carries a sprocket 174 which is directly connected to the shaft 162 by means of a drive chain 175 and sprocket 176. The drive shaft 172 is mounted to the driven portion of a second single revolution clutch 178 with the drive portion of the clutch being connected to a drive sprocket 179 which is adapted to be continuously rotated during operation of the washing apparatus by means of a drive chain 180 connected with the output of a motor M. The single-revolution clutch 178 is similar to the clutch 164 and is controlled by a latching arm 182 the movement of which, in turn, is controlled by a solenoid SL-l. Energization of the solenoid SL-l will lift the latching arm 182 from the driven portion of the singlerevolution clutch 178 to allow the drive sprocket 179 to be connected directly to the main drive shaft 172 and thereby cause the main drive shaft to rotate through a single revolution. The solenoid SL-l is energized by means of the previously described limit switch LS-l which is providedat the input to the washing tank. Consequently, when a filler flat moves into the washing tank and the pusher member therefor engages and closes the limit switch, the solenoid SL-l will be energized to release the driven portion of the single-revolution clutch and permit it to rotate along with the main drive shaft 172 carried thereby so that the drive shaft will be carried through a single revolution for each energization of the solenoid. The electrical circuitry for accomplishing this operation may consist of a simple series circuit connecting a power source with the limit switch and the coil of the solenoid. Since the pushers on the infeed conveyor 12 will be spaced a uniform distance apart and the drive shaft 172 will be rotated only one for every filler flat received, a uniformly timed arrangement is achieved although it will be appreciated that it is not strictly necessary that the spacing between filler flats be uniform since the main drive shaft H72 would be energized but one for each filler flat received even if such flats were nonuniformly spaced.

By means of the drive arrangement described, it will be seen that the single revolution of the main drive shaft ll72 will cause the cam 170 to be rotated thereby releasing the driven portion of the single-revolution clutch 164 to connect the main drive shaft to the shaft 160 and thereby provide power to the conveyor member 30. By a selection of the various interposed gears, sprockets and drive chains, the single revolution imparted to the shaft 160 will impart 45 of angular movement to the stub shaft 150 so that the conveyor member will index the filler flats from one station to the next within the washing tank.

The main drive shaft 172, when energized, also operates the oscillatory discharge member 42 in the manner best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The drive shaft 172 carries a cam 190 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam follower 192 mounted upon a pivotally mounted swing arm 194. The upper end of the swing arm carries a sprocket 196 about which is arranged a takeup chain 198. One end of the takeup chain is rigidly mounted to the frame structure of the washing tank while the other end extends about an idler sprocket 200 and is connected by means of a bracket 202 to the rearwardly extending flange & on the discharge pusher arm 42. A tension spring 204 is also connected to the discharge pusher arm by means of the mounting bracket 202 so as to maintain the pusher arm in its rearwardly retracted position as shown in FIG. 5. When the main drive shaft I72 of the apparatus rotates and the lobed portion of the cam 190 engages the cam follower I92, the takeup chain 198 is shifted to the right (as viewed in FIGS. an 6) which, in turn, causes the mounting flange 80 of the discharge pusher arm to move forwardly and push the filler flat at the discharge station out of the washing tank. 7

By the arrangement of the various cams, the apparatus of the present invention is designed so that the conveyor member will complete its incremental 45 angular movement before the discharge pusher arm is activated. For this purpose, it will be noted that the cam 170 on the main drive shaft 172 in its stationary position is situated with its lobed portion in engagement with the latching arm 166 so that almost immediately upon energization ofthe solenoid SL-l, the single-revolution clutch 164 will be engaged to connect the driving power from the motor M to the conveyor member 30. After the conveyor member, has stopped, the lobe on the discharge operating cam 190 will contact the cam follower 192 so as to activate the discharge pusher bar 42. When the discharge pusher bar returns to its normal position (FlG. 5) the main drive shaft 172 will have completed its single revolution and will be brought to a stop by the action of the latching arm 182 on the driven portion of the single-revolution clutch 178 which will await the next energization impulse from the limit switch LS-l.

It will be seen that the washing apparatus of the present invention provides a simple and effective means for washing and stacking flat articles and may be adapted to cooperate with almost any conventional delivery conveyor. While the device of the present invention may be used with a process in apparatus which includes a horizontal conveyor delivering the flat articles in a uniformly spaced and timed arrangement as has been shown herein, the apparatus may also be used with other infeed devices including a common dispenser for dispensing flat articles directly from a stack. While there obviously must be a predetermined timing arrangement between the article input and the washing apparatus drive structure, such timing may be achieved by means other than that shown, and it should be noted that while the apparatus is particularly useful for washing egg filler flats it may be utilized to wash other flat articles ofa generally similar nature.

A special feature of the present invention is the fact that the flat articles are moved in upright positions about the periphery of the washing tank so that the horizontally directed sprays will impinge upon the major surfaces of the articles and the wash water will be immediately drained therefrom. Another special feature of the invention is the fact that the flat articles are automatically stacked without manual intervention upon their discharge from the washing apparatus in a position to further drain and rapidly dry. It is also an important aspect of the present invention that the wash water is recycled through the apparatus in an efficient manner so that undue wastage is eliminated.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank, a conveyor member mounted in said tank for rotary movement about a vertical central axis and including a plurality of pusher members extending from said central axis at equiangularly spaced positions, a pair of guide members extending in parallel closely spaced relationship and in partial circular paths about the periphery of said tank, each of said pusher members having flat engaging portions adapted to engage one of said flat articles in an upright position between said guide members, drive means for intermittently rotating said conveyor member through angular incremental movements to index said flat articles successively to a plurality of stations spaced about said tank, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned at said stations adjacent to said guide members for directing horizontal sprays against the major surfaces of said flat articles, means for supplying said nozzles with wash water under pressure, a vertically oriented chute adjacent one of the ends of said guide members for permitting said flat articles to be successively dropped into said tank at a delivery station in a position to be engaged by said pusher members, the other ends of each of said guide members terminating adjacent a discharge path for the articles extending generally tangentially to said guide members, and discharge means adapted to suecessively engage each of said flat articles in said discharge path to form them into an upright stack.

2. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means comprises a reciprocating pusher arm, and means for intermittently driving said arm in timed relationship with said drive means for said conveyor member in order to cause said pusher arm to engage the inwardly extending side of the flat article in said discharge path and to propel it in an upright position laterally out of said washing tank through a discharge opening therein and into the trailing end of said upright stack of flat articles.

3. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 2 including a pivotable latch mounted upon said washing tank adjacent to said discharge opening and arranged to support said trailing end of the stack of articles, said latch being pivotable from a first position in supporting engagement with said stack to a second position out of engagement with said stack, said latch being moved from said first to said second position by each article as it is propelled by said pusher arm out of said tank, said latch being arranged to move back into said first position after the article has been moved therepast and into said stack.

4. A washing apparatus according to claim 2 including a reservoir extending beneath the path of travel of said flat articles out of said washing tank, a cover mounted atop said reservoir and arranged to support said stack of articles, said cover including drain apertures to permit the water on said flat articles to drain to said reservoir, and said means for supplying said noules with wash water being connected with said reservoir to draw said water therefrom.

5. A washing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said washing tank includes a floor for supporting said flat articles during their movement about said tank and-for catching said wash water from said spray nozzles, and means for directing the water on said floor to said reservoir.

6. A washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for driving said pusher arm includes a rotary cam, a shaft connected to said cam, a motor, a single-revolution clutch arranged to connect said shaft to said motor, and sensing means mounted so as to detect the input of an article to said washing tank for engaging said single-revolution clutch.

7. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including sensing means arranged so as to detect the input of a flat article to said washing tank, said sensing means being operatively connected to said drive means and to said discharge means to cause said conveyor member to index the flat articles in the tank to adjacent stations and to cause said discharge means to discharge one article to said stack upon the reception of an article at said delivery station.

8. A washing apparatus according to claim 7 including a drive shaft, said drive shaft being operatively connected to drive said conveyor member, a drive motor, a single-revolution clutch for connecting said drive shaft to said drive motor, and a solenoid arranged to permit engagement of said singlerevolution clutch, said sensing means being arranged to energize said solenoid.

9. A washing apparatus according to claim 7 including a drive shaft connected so as to be driven through a predetermined period of time upon energization by said sensing means, said drive shaft being connected to said conveyor member and to said discharge means so as to cause said conveyor member to complete its angular incremental movement prior to movement of said discharge means.

10. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including an input spray nozzle mounted on said tank adjacent to said chute, said input spray nozzle being oriented so as to direct a spray downwardly to aid in propelling the flat articles to said delivery station and preventing theirjamming in said chute.

11. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including a reservoir arranged beneath said washing tank, and means for permitting the draining of said wash water from said tank to said reservoir, said means for supplying said nozzles with wash water comprising a pump having its input connected to said reservoir.

12. A washing apparatus according to claim 11 including a rinse water spray nozzle arranged adjacent to said other ends of said guide members for rinsing said flat articles of said wash water, means for supplying said rinse water spray nozzle with water externally of said washing apparatus, and an overflow conduit mounted within said reservoir for continuously removing excess wash water and the dirt or other material floating thereon from said reservoir and discharging it from said apparatus, the volume of rinse water added to said apparatus during any given period of time generally equaling the volume of the wash water discharged from said reservoir.

13. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank having a floor portion, a conveyor member mounted upon said tank floor portion for rotary movement about a vertical central axis, said conveyor member including a plurality of pusher members extending f rom said central axis at equiangularly spaced positions for engagement with said articles, drive means for rotating said conveyor member to move said articles about the periphery of said tank while they are sup ported therein, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned about the periphery of said tank for directing spray against the major surfaces of said articles, input means for feeding articles successively to said conveyor member, discharge means for removing articles successively from said conveyor member and for stacking them upon a stacking surface, a reservoir located beneath said stacking surface for receiving the drainage from the stacked articles, means for causing said floor portion of the tank to drain to said reservoir, and a pump having an inlet positioned in said reservoir and having an output connected to said spray nozzles for pumping the wash water in said reservoir to said nozzles.

14. A washing apparatus according to claim 13 including a rinse water spray nozzle for rinsing said flat articles of said wash water, said rinse water spray nozzle being mounted within said tank adjacent to said discharge means, means for supplying said rinse water spray nozzle with water externally of said washing apparatus, and an overflow conduit mounted in said reservoir for continuously removing excess wash water and the dirt or other material floating thereon from said reservoir and discharging it from said apparatus, the volume of rinse water added to said apparatus during any given period of time generally equaling the volume of the wash water discharged from said reservoir.

15. A washing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said spray nozzles are connected to said pump by means of a main header pipe extending about the periphery of said tank, said nozzles being located in branch pipes connected to said header pipe and extending vertically therefrom within said tank.

16. A washing apparatus according to claim 15 including guide members for supporting said flat articles in upright positions within said tank as they are propelled by said conveyor member past said spray nozzles, said spray nozzles being oriented so as to direct the wash water spray horizontally against said articles.

17. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank, a rotary conveyor mounted in said tank for rotation about a vertical axis and including a plurality of pusher members extending radially from said axis, guide means extending in an arcuate path about the periphery of said tank within the path of said pusher members, each of said pusher members having article engaging portions arranged to engage one of said flat articles in an upright position, drive means for rotating said conveyor in order to propel said flat articles along said arcuate conveying path, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned about said tank for directing wash water in a generally horizontal direction against a major vertically extending surface of each of said flat articles, means for supplying said nozzles with wash water under pressure, means for individually receiving said flat articles in an initial portion of said conveying path in a position to be engaged by said pusher members, and discharge means adjacent the terminal portion of said conveying path for successively moving each of said flat articles into a stack.

18. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 17 wherein said means for receiving said articles at the initial portion of the conveying path includes a vertically oriented chute extending to the top of the tank in a position to receive said articles as they gravitate off the edge of a horizontally extending feed conveyor.

19. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 17 wherein said discharge means comprises a reciprocating pusher arm, and means for driving said pusher arm in timed relationship with the movement of said rotary conveyor so that the pusher arm will engage the inwardly extending side of each article at the terminal portion of the conveying path and propel it in an upright position laterally out of the washing tank through a discharge opening therein and into the trailing end of said stack of articles.

@2530 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,583,414 DatedJUNE 1971 Inventor(s)ROSE, BOYD W.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown bel Column 2, line 47: change "articles" to --article.

Column 3 line 25: change "are" to arm.

Column 5, line 59: change "of" to -or--.

Column 6 line 36: change "well-known" to -plan in Column 8, line 63: after "said" insert pusher.

Signed and sealed this 21st day oi March 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GO'I'TSCHALK Attesting Officer- Commissioner of Patents 

1. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank, a conveyor member mounted in said tank for rotary movement about a vertical central axis and including a plurality of pusher members extending from said central axis at equiangularly spaced positions, a pair of guide members extending in parallel closely spaced relationship and in partial circular paths about the periphery of said tank, each of said pusher members having flat engaging portions adapted to engage one of said flat articles in an upright position between said guide members, drive means for intermittently rotating said conveyor member through angular incremental movements to index said flat articles successively to a plurality of stations spaced about said tank, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned at said stations adjacent to said guide members for directing horizontal sprays against the major surfaces of said flat articles, means for supplying said nozzles with wash water under pressure, a vertically oriented chute adjacent one of the ends of said guide members for permitting said flat articles to be successively dropped into said tank at a delivery station in a position to be engaged by said pusher members, the other ends of each of said guide members terminating adjacent a discharge path for the articles extending generally tangentially to said guide members, and discharge means adapted to successively engage each of said flat articles in said discharge path to form them into an upright stack.
 2. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 1 wherein said discharge means comprises a reciprocating pusher arm, and means for intermittently driving said arm in timed relationship with said drive means for said conveyor member in order to cause said pusher arm to engage the inwardly extending side of the flat article in said discharge path and to propel it in an upright position laterally out of said washing tank through a discharge opening therein and into the trailing end of said upright stack of flat articles.
 3. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 2 including a pivotable latch mounted upon said washing tank adjacent to said discharge opening and arranged to support said trailing end of the stack of articles, said latch being pivotable from a first position in supporting engagement with said stack to a second position out of engagement with said stack, said latch being moved from said first to said second position by each article as it is propelled by said pusher arm out of said tank, said latch being arranged to move back into Said first position after the article has been moved therepast and into said stack.
 4. A washing apparatus according to claim 2 including a reservoir extending beneath the path of travel of said flat articles out of said washing tank, a cover mounted atop said reservoir and arranged to support said stack of articles, said cover including drain apertures to permit the water on said flat articles to drain to said reservoir, and said means for supplying said nozzles with wash water being connected with said reservoir to draw said water therefrom.
 5. A washing apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said washing tank includes a floor for supporting said flat articles during their movement about said tank and for catching said wash water from said spray nozzles, and means for directing the water on said floor to said reservoir.
 6. A washing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for driving said pusher arm includes a rotary cam, a shaft connected to said cam, a motor, a single-revolution clutch arranged to connect said shaft to said motor, and sensing means mounted so as to detect the input of an article to said washing tank for engaging said single-revolution clutch.
 7. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including sensing means arranged so as to detect the input of a flat article to said washing tank, said sensing means being operatively connected to said drive means and to said discharge means to cause said conveyor member to index the flat articles in the tank to adjacent stations and to cause said discharge means to discharge one article to said stack upon the reception of an article at said delivery station.
 8. A washing apparatus according to claim 7 including a drive shaft, said drive shaft being operatively connected to drive said conveyor member, a drive motor, a single-revolution clutch for connecting said drive shaft to said drive motor, and a solenoid arranged to permit engagement of said single-revolution clutch, said sensing means being arranged to energize said solenoid.
 9. A washing apparatus according to claim 7 including a drive shaft connected so as to be driven through a predetermined period of time upon energization by said sensing means, said drive shaft being connected to said conveyor member and to said discharge means so as to cause said conveyor member to complete its angular incremental movement prior to movement of said discharge means.
 10. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including an input spray nozzle mounted on said tank adjacent to said chute, said input spray nozzle being oriented so as to direct a spray downwardly to aid in propelling the flat articles to said delivery station and preventing their jamming in said chute.
 11. A washing apparatus according to claim 1 including a reservoir arranged beneath said washing tank, and means for permitting the draining of said wash water from said tank to said reservoir, said means for supplying said nozzles with wash water comprising a pump having its input connected to said reservoir.
 12. A washing apparatus according to claim 11 including a rinse water spray nozzle arranged adjacent to said other ends of said guide members for rinsing said flat articles of said wash water, means for supplying said rinse water spray nozzle with water externally of said washing apparatus, and an overflow conduit mounted within said reservoir for continuously removing excess wash water and the dirt or other material floating thereon from said reservoir and discharging it from said apparatus, the volume of rinse water added to said apparatus during any given period of time generally equaling the volume of the wash water discharged from said reservoir.
 13. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank having a floor portion, a conveyor member mounted upon said tank floor portion for rotary movement about a vertical central axis, said conveyor member including a plurality of pusher members extending from said central axis at equiangularly spaced positionS for engagement with said articles, drive means for rotating said conveyor member to move said articles about the periphery of said tank while they are supported therein, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned about the periphery of said tank for directing spray against the major surfaces of said articles, input means for feeding articles successively to said conveyor member, discharge means for removing articles successively from said conveyor member and for stacking them upon a stacking surface, a reservoir located beneath said stacking surface for receiving the drainage from the stacked articles, means for causing said floor portion of the tank to drain to said reservoir, and a pump having an inlet positioned in said reservoir and having an output connected to said spray nozzles for pumping the wash water in said reservoir to said nozzles.
 14. A washing apparatus according to claim 13 including a rinse water spray nozzle for rinsing said flat articles of said wash water, said rinse water spray nozzle being mounted within said tank adjacent to said discharge means, means for supplying said rinse water spray nozzle with water externally of said washing apparatus, and an overflow conduit mounted in said reservoir for continuously removing excess wash water and the dirt or other material floating thereon from said reservoir and discharging it from said apparatus, the volume of rinse water added to said apparatus during any given period of time generally equaling the volume of the wash water discharged from said reservoir.
 15. A washing apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said spray nozzles are connected to said pump by means of a main header pipe extending about the periphery of said tank, said nozzles being located in branch pipes connected to said header pipe and extending vertically therefrom within said tank.
 16. A washing apparatus according to claim 15 including guide members for supporting said flat articles in upright positions within said tank as they are propelled by said conveyor member past said spray nozzles, said spray nozzles being oriented so as to direct the wash water spray horizontally against said articles.
 17. A washing apparatus for flat articles comprising a washing tank, a rotary conveyor mounted in said tank for rotation about a vertical axis and including a plurality of pusher members extending radially from said axis, guide means extending in an arcuate path about the periphery of said tank within the path of said pusher members, each of said pusher members having article engaging portions arranged to engage one of said flat articles in an upright position, drive means for rotating said conveyor in order to propel said flat articles along said arcuate conveying path, a plurality of spray nozzles positioned about said tank for directing wash water in a generally horizontal direction against a major vertically extending surface of each of said flat articles, means for supplying said nozzles with wash water under pressure, means for individually receiving said flat articles in an initial portion of said conveying path in a position to be engaged by said pusher members, and discharge means adjacent the terminal portion of said conveying path for successively moving each of said flat articles into a stack.
 18. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 17 wherein said means for receiving said articles at the initial portion of the conveying path includes a vertically oriented chute extending to the top of the tank in a position to receive said articles as they gravitate off the edge of a horizontally extending feed conveyor.
 19. A washing apparatus for flat articles according to claim 17 wherein said discharge means comprises a reciprocating pusher arm, and means for driving said pusher arm in timed relationship with the movement of said rotary conveyor so that the pusher arm will engage the inwardly extending side of each article at the terminal portion of the conveying path and propel it in an upright position lateRally out of the washing tank through a discharge opening therein and into the trailing end of said stack of articles. 